Vehicle automatic transmission dial illuminator



Sept. 11, 1956 E. w. WIRGES 2,762,906

VEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIAL ILLUMINATOR Filed June 25, 1954 2 SheetsQ'Sheet 1 fad 32 INIVENTOR. 52 25 Edward V. VV/r'ges 5'0 a T1 7 4 T51 5 BY we'wmfiwm 49m Sept. 11, 1956 w w E 2,762,906 7 VEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIAL ILLUMINATOR Filed June 25, 1954 2 SheetSFShe ec 2 '76 vfaz IN VENTOR. Edward W. W/r'ges VEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIAL ILLATOR Edward W. Wirges, Streator, Ill.

Application June 25, 1954, Serial No. 439,224

3 Claims. (Cl. 2407.1)

This invention relates to improvements in means for illuminating the steering column mounted dial of a vehicle automatic transmission control level.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of the character indicated which can be quickly and easily installed, and which does not interfere with the vision of a driver.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above which side lights the dial and includes means for shielding the light fromthe eyes of the driver while adequately illuminating the face of the dial.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing illuminating means in accordance with the present invention mounted on the steering post of a conventional vehicle equipped with a dial of a manually controlled automatic transmission, and showing the illuminating means connected in the illuminating circuit of the vehicle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of a lamp house showing the lamp as it would appear when looking through the window of the lamp house;

Figlre 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the back of the lamp house;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the front of the lamp house; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lamp house showing it supported on a clamp ring.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is therein shown a conventional steering column 10 equipped with a conventional dial 12, and a control lever 14 having a pointer 16 for movement into selected positions on the dial 12 to indicate the setting of the automatic transmission of the vehicle. The structure so far defined is conventional and forms no part of this invention. The vehicle is also provided with a conventional battery 18, a light control switch 2-6 and lamps 22 which are lighted when the control switch 20 is moved to on position.

In accordance with the present invention there is mounted, as by a screw 24, to the steering column 10 adjacent the dial 12 a lamp housing or casing designated generally 26 which comprises a bottom wall 28, and parallel side walls 30 defining a substantially channel shaped body. Carried by and extending outwardly from the free edges 2,762,906 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 of side walls 30 adjacent one end of the lamp housing are extensions 32 and extending transversely across the extensions 32 adjacent the ends thereof remote from the side walls 30 is an endwall 34 which is curved as at 36 and merges into the bottom wall 28, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, the ends of the side walls 30 remote from the endwall 34 are inclined, as at 38, and an endwall 40 extends therebetween. Opening through the end of the endwall 40 remote from the bottom wall 28 is a notch 42 for accommodating an electrical conductor, to be more fully hereinafter described. As illustrated in Figure 6, the bottom wall 28 is provided adjacent its junction with the endwall 40 with an opening 44 for the reception of a tie bolt by which a closure panel or plate is connected to the housing.

A closure panel designated generally 46 is adapted to close the open side of the housing 26 and comprises a front plate 48 carrying adjacent one end a perpendicular lateral flange 50 which, when the panel 46 is in place, extends between the extensions 32 remote from the top 34 to define with the top 34 and the extensions 32 a light shield designated generally 52 which surrounds a window 54 in the side of the lamp housing. The panel 46 is provided intermediate its ends with an opening 56 which, when the flange 50 lies adjacent the edges of the extensions 32 remote from the top 34, aligns with the opening 44 in the bottom wall 28 and receives a bolt 58 by means of which the front panel 46 is secured in place. The panel 46 projects beyond the lower end of the inclined end wall 40 of the bottom wall 28 and is provided with an opening 60 for the reception of an attaching screw 24.

Secured as by rivets 62 to the plate 48 is a plate 64 carrying adjacent opposite side edges of the plate 48 parallel flanges 66 which project from the plate 48 in a direction opposite the flange 50 and are adapted to extend adjacent the side walls 30 of the housing 36 to define guides and spacers by which the plate 43 is guided into place in the housing. Secured by the rivets 62 to the plate 64 are oppositely extending flanges 68 on a tubular body 70, the upper end of which lies flush with the bottom of the window 54 and is provided with bayonet slots 72 for the reception of base lugs 74 of the conventional lamp 76. A suitable insulated conductor 78 is connected to the central contact of the base of the lamp 76 and to the illuminating control switch 20 so that when the lamps 22 are lighted, the lamp 76 will also be lighted to illuminate the dial 12.

In certain instances it is undesirable to secure the lamp housing 26 directly to the steering column 10, in which event a suitable clamp 86 may be mounted in encircling relation to the steering column with the lamp housing mounted on the clamp 80 in any conventional manner.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lamp of the character described, an elongated housing having spaced sidewalls, and endwalls extending between ends of the sidewalls, said sidewalls having free edges, extensions on the free edges of the sidewalls spaced from one of the ends of the sidewalls and reaching to the other ends of the sidewalls, the adjacent endwall being coextensive with said extensions, a bottom wall coextensive with the sidewalls and extending therebetween in spaced relation to said free edges and joined at its ends to said endwalls, the side of the housing opposite the bottom wall being open, a removable closure plate closing the open side of the housing and engaging said free edges between the extensions and the endwall of the housing remote from the extensions, a lamp assembly mounted on said closure plate, securing means acting between the housing and the closure plate and removably securing the closure plate in place, andmounting means 011 said closure plate for mounting the lamp housing on a support.

2. In a lamp of the character described, a troughshaped housing having a bottom wall, spaced side walls on said bottom wall having free longitudinal edges, a first end wall extending between said side walls at one of the ends of the side walls, a removable closure plate extending across the housing and engaging said free edges of the side walls, means removablysecuring the closure plate in place in the housing, said closure plate having a laterally outwardly projecting flange on-the end of the closure plate adjacent to said first end wall and spaced from said first end wall longitudinally of the housing, said housing bottom wall, side walls, end wall and said lateral flange together defining a shield and a lateral window, said closure plate having laterally inwardly projecting flange means extending Within said housing, a lamp socket mounted on said closure plate, and a lamp bulb having a base engaged in the socket with the bulb within said shield.

3. In a lamp of the character described, a troughshaped housing having a bottom wall, spaced side walls 4 on said bottom wall having free longitudinal edges, a first end wall extending between said side walls at one of the ends of the side walls, a removable closure plate extending across the housing and engaging said free edges of the side walls, means removably securing the closure plate in place on the housing, a laterally outwardly projecting flange on the end of the closure plate adjacent to said first end wall and spaced from said first end wall longitudinally of the housing, said housing bottom wall side walls, end wall and said lateral flange together defining a shield and a lateral window, said closure plate having laterally inwardly projecting flange means extending within said housing, a lamp socket mounted on said closure plate, and a lamp bulb having a base engaged in the socket with the bulb Within said shield, said closure plate having means for mounting the housing on a support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,667 Winter Apr. 2, 1918 2,379,167 Lynn June 26, 1945 2,583,182 Lyman Jan. 22, 1952. 2,593,810 Sullivan Apr. 22, 1952 2,672,116 vGunderson Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 415,144 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1934' 419,305 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1934 

